Patric Hornqvist of Penguins won't face Senators in Game 6

OTTAWA -- Injured forwards Patric Hornqvist and Tom Kuhnhackl, and defensemen Justin Schultz and Chad Ruhwedel, will not play for the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

Hornqvist (upper body), Kuhnhackl (lower body) and Ruhwedel (concussion) did not accompany the Penguins to Ottawa, but coach Mike Sullivan said they are continuing their rehabilitation in Pittsburgh and are making progress.

Schultz (upper body) did make the trip to Ottawa.

"He's rehabbing as well but he will not play [Tuesday]," Sullivan said of Schultz.

The Penguins lead the Senators 3-2 in the best-of-7 series and can advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive year with one more win.

The Nashville Predators, who won the Western Conference Final with a 6-3 victory against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 on Monday, will play at Pittsburgh or Ottawa series in Game 1 of the Cup Final on May 29.

Eliminating the Senators in six games would allow the Penguins to give their players more time to recover. It took the Penguins two tries to get their fourth win against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and three tries to get the series-clinching win against the Washington Capitals in the second round.

"I think the most important thing is we have to control what we can to be our very best," Sullivan said. "It starts with a mindset and readiness going into the game and then we've got to make sure that we go out and try to dictate the terms as best we can to play to our identity and play to our strengths."

Hornqvist hasn't played since leaving warmups prior to a 1-0 win in Game 2 against the Senators on May 15. Schultz was injured on a hit by Senators forward Mike Hoffman in the first period of that game. Ruhwedel sustained a concussion on a hit from Senators left wing Bobby Ryan in the first period of a 3-2 win in Game 4 on Friday.

Kuhnhackl was a healthy scratch for three consecutive games before apparently being injured during practice and sitting out the past three games.

Sullivan said Monday that left wing Scott Wilson will play after he was shaken up on a hit from Senators forward Tommy Wingels with 15 seconds remaining in a 7-0 win in Game 5 on Sunday. After participating in the optional morning skate Tuesday, Wilson said he was checked out by the team doctor following the game Sunday but did not have to be put through the concussion protocol.

"[Wingels] caught me off guard a little bit, but I'm fine," Wilson said. "That stuff kind of happens throughout the game, but I think it just make it look a little worse that it was super late [in the game]. … All is good and I'm feeling good today."

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